The Blind Brawler [ Roronoa Zoro X OC]

Chapter 53: The Stowaway

"Set sail! Full speed!" Luffy cried out, his voice full of energy and determination. The crew all jumped into action as the Marine ships closed in and sent volley after volley of cannonballs. Usopp, Chopper, and Kaori all rushed below deck to start patching the holes in the hull while Nami manned the rudder.

I looked back at the pursuing Marine ships and scowled. They were too far for us to try and board them for a counterattack. However, the lead that we had was quickly shrinking as their ships started to close in.

Luffy noticed as well, "Whoa! Those Marines are fast."

"Or rather we're beginning to slow down," Curlybrow said bitterly.

Nami spoke with a tremor in her voice, "We're not gonna make it much further like this. Water is flooding in from the holes!"

I grasped the sheath of Wado as the ships got within range for us to attempt to board them, "Here they come."

"Then let's go!" Luffy roared. Sanji and I ran up beside him, only for all three of us to trip over the huge iron spears scattered on the deck. The same spears that the Marines had shot at us to cause the holes the rest of the crew were patching.

"What's this!" I shouted simultaneously with my captain and the cook.

Nami seemed indifferent, "Oh that? Usopp said to hold on to them in case we needed 'em for something. Who knows?"

I indignantly grunted as I got to my feet, "Come on!"

"They're in our way!" Curlybrow shouted, sounding equally ticked off.

Luffy, on the other hand, spoke in a puzzled tone, "I'll get rid of 'em," Before any of us could ask what he meant by that, he stretched his arms out and gathered all of them up two or three at a time. He then started to chuck them over his shoulder with as much force as he could muster. I watched, stunned, as the iron spears flew wildly into the air and plummeted directly into the Marine ships, severely damaging them. The rubber man seemed to not even realize he was crippling the enemy ships as he turned with a determined grin, "Okay! Now, we ready?"

We all seemed shocked for a moment before I snapped out of it, "Now's our chance! Full speed ahead! Shake 'em off!" Before I could move, however, I heard something that made my chest tighten in panic.

"ZORO!" Kaori practically screamed from below deck. I turned toward the hatch and started to run, "Shit. This can't be good."

~*^<:>^*~

I scrambled along with Chopper and Usopp to patch the holes in the ship. They both hammered away at the boards as I helped hold them in place and grabbed more materials for them. Water was quickly starting to fill the hull, but we seemed to be slowing it down.

Usopp grunted in effort as he called out, "Kaori, hand me another panel!"

"On it!" I grabbed another board and turned to Usopp, struggling to move through the water that was now starting to reach over my knees.

He grabbed it as soon as it was within his reach, "Thanks. I think we're nearly-" His voice suddenly grew panicked, "Chopper!"

"What is it?!" I whipped around and tried to sense where the young reindeer was. The seawater had risen too high and he had grown weak enough to collapse fully into the water. Now it was my turn to cry out in panic, "Chopper, no!"

Usopp and I immediately dropped the tools and rushed through the water toward the unconscious boy. He was in his heavy point, so it took both of our combined efforts just to lift him up by his arms.

I threw Chopper's arm across my shoulders and groaned as I tried to lift him to his feet, "Chopper, come on. Turn little, will ya?"

"It's no use," Usopp said angrily, "He's out cold. He can't transform," The water continued to rise, now reaching my thighs. I bit my lip as we dragged the heavy reindeer over to the ladder. Usopp and I were both panting, wiped out from hauling him through the water. The sniper groaned, "Great!... Now... what...?"